Five rural bus pilot schemes have been announced by Kent's transport chiefs to test new ways of providing services for those who live in villages and isolated communities.

They will run in Dover, Sevenoaks, Tenterden, West Malling and Maidstone, it was revealed during a summit in County Hall this evening.

The county council has been consulting on changes to what are described as "socially necessary" buses.

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The review was partly been triggered by the need to save money.

However, the council has also investigated whether there are better ways to provide subsidised services.

The specific routes have not yet been finalised, but the initial plans show the routes will cover the following villages:

• Dover feeder bus: Staple, Ash, Northbourne, Mongeham, Sholden.

• Sevenoaks taxi bus: Fairseat, Stansted, West Kingsdown, East Hill, Otford.

• Tenterden taxi bus: Shirkoak Park, Rare Breeds Centre, Tenterden, Leigh Green, Shrubcote, Rolvenden Layne, Rolvenden, Iden Green, Benenden, Castletons Oak.

• Maidstone feeder bus: Hollingbourne, Leeds, Langley, Otham, Parkwood Morrisons, Grafty Green, Ulcombe, Kingswood, Chart Sutton, Boughton Monchelsea.

• West Malling feeder bus: Addington, Trottiscliffe, Wrotham Heath, Ryarsh, Birling, Leybourne, West Malling, East Malling, Lunsford Park Tesco.

KCC cabinet member for transport, Mike Whiting, said: “The Big Conversation had a big turnout of residents and three out of four that took part said the availability of public transport restricts the places they go.

"Having the feedback meant we could go away and look at how we can help.

"With budgets the way they are, giving money to the bus companies to cover certain routes for a handful of people is increasingly difficult to justify.

"Our new schemes which incorporate feeder services and taxi buses mean we can be smarter with our money and reach more people that feel let down by commercial buses.

"The summit was the announcement of these schemes and we will now be developing the pilots for formal approval before we commission the services."